PARK CITY, Utah (June 27, 2017) – Top U.S. cross country athletes will race in seven cities across North America in the 2017-18 iteration of the SuperTour. The tour is a series of International Ski Federation (FIS)-sanctioned cross country events across America produced by U.S. Ski & Snowboard together with its divisions and clubs.
The SuperTour is a vital piece of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s development program, providing top level racing at key cross country centers around the nation. It’s a proving ground for club athletes with aspirations of making it to the U.S. Ski Team and competing on the FIS World Cup tour and in the Olympics.
This season’s tour kicks off Dec. 2-3 in West Yellowstone, Montana before heading to Silverstar, British Columbia Dec. 9-10. A decision was made during U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress in May to start the series one week later in order to combine with Canada to increase the field. The second period will open in Anchorage and conclude with races in Craftsbury, Vermont and Gatineau, Quebec.
The third period features two stops in the midwest: the first at Ishpeming, Michigan on a recently homologated trail, followed by America’s largest race, the American Birkebeiner, on Feb. 24 where top long distance racers from around the world compete in northern Wisconsin. The series wraps up with the SuperTour Finals Mar. 24-29 in Craftsbury, Vermont.
“A strong SuperTour calendar is pivotal in providing our juniors, collegiate and senior cross country skiers the opportunity to compete head-to-head and continue to improve,” said Bryan Fish, U.S. Ski & Snowboard cross country development coach. “We are fortunate to have a cross country community that continues to step up and place a high importance on having a strong race series for our top athletes to excel. We are excited to strengthen our collaboration with Canada and invigorate our SuperTour fields in every region.”
“The SuperTour is the primary domestic proving ground for our best young racers wishing to eventually make their mark on the international competition stage,” said U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Head Coach Chris Grover. “This season will be the most exciting year of racing in the quadrennial, with not only World Cup berths available after every period of racing, but also Olympic team nominations. We have an exceptional group of venues and organizers committed to hosting the 2017-18 SuperTour and we are excited to watch the competitions unfold.”
A full SuperTour schedule will be posted at ussa.org/joinnordic.
2017-18 U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD CROSS COUNTRY SUPERTOUR
Period 1
Dec 2-3, 2017
West Yellowstone, MT
Men: sprint freestyle, 15k classic
Women: sprint freestyle, 10k classic
Dec 9-10, 2017
Silverstar, British Columbia
Men: sprint classic, 15k freestyle
Women: sprint classic, 10k freestyle
Period 2
Jan. 3-8, 2018
Anchorage, AK
Men: 15k freestyle, sprint freestyle, 30k classic, sprint classic
Women: 10k free, sprint freestyle, 20k classic, sprint classic
Jan. 26-28, 2018
Craftsbury, VT
Men: sprint classic, 10k freestyle
Women: sprint classic, 5k freestyle
Feb. 1-3, 2018
Gatineau, Quebec
Men: sprint freestyle, 15k freestyle, 20k classic pursuit
Women: sprint freestyle, 10k freestyle, 15k classic pursuit
Period 3
Feb. 15-18, 2018
Ishpeming, MI
Men: sprint freestyle, 20k freestyle, 10k classic
Women: sprint freestyle, 15k freestyle, 5k classic
Feb. 24, 2017
American Birkebeiner
Hayward, WI
Men: 50k freestyle
Women: 50k freestyle
Period 4
Mar. 23-28, 2018
SuperTour Finals
Craftsbury, VT
Men: sprint classic, 15k freestyle, relay, 50k classic
Women: sprint classic, 10k freestyle, relay, 30k classic
